Any of a class of aliphatic carboxylic acids, of general formula CHCOOH, that occur combined with glycerol as animal or vegetable oils and fats. Only those with an even number of carbon atoms are normally found in natural fats.
See Also: acetic acid, butyric acid, caproic acid, capric acid, caprylic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, obtusilic acid, caproleic acid, lauroleic acid, linderic acid, myristoleic acid, physeteric acid, tsuzuic acid, palmitoleic acid, petroselinic acid, oleic acid, vaccenic acid, gadoleic acid, gondoic acid, cetoleic acid, erucis acid, nervonic acid, elaidic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid
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